I’m still around and kicking

[albert_d]

I think the forum is going well, but we have missed you and it’s better now that you are back. On the side I’ve been working on flat picking some fiddle tunes and delving deeper in to CAGED system.

[Loraine]

That”s awesome Albert! I did quite a bit of flatpicking when I started in the Song Valult, and I know you’ve been diving headfirst into the songs there. I’m sure you’re doing great!

I’m not great at theory. but I enjoy goofing CAGED. I’ve been too busy just diving into songs that I’ve neglected my theory. I’ll have to revisit it at some point.

[jumpinjeff]

How is the rehab on your wrist going? I was reading a post the other day and thought Loraine would have a useful answer! Someone talking about striking two string simultainously. I am curious about your wrist and its function improvement (or lack of but hopefully not that). I am always in a seemingly perpetual rehab mode for one joint or another. Darn that L4/L5 disk! Guitar has allowed me to do more physical rehab once I got the slow stretch method figured out, the sessions become as much a rehab stretching effort as it is a musical adventure. Would love your perspective!

[Loraine]

Thanks for asking Jeff. The right wrist is doing great. It looks good, and I have probably 90% range that I used to. The weather affects it, as well as my fingers now. Really happy with that rehab.

The left wrist is another story. Permanently deformed and very painful. I get shots every 3 months, but I have a new surgeon that is insisting on the 4th surgery to doing a partial fusion. Of course, I’m fighting that. Seems like every time I see a doctor, I get a different surgical need to fix the wrist. All have mentioned a full wrist fusion, which I reject outright. I wouldn’t be able to play at all, and it is too limiting. Then there is a surgery to cut the 2 nerves that send pain receptors to the brain, another is to do a partial fusion, which would give me sideways motion, just not forward or backward motion. The last was a complete wrist replacement, which is a fairly new thing, and the recovery is very hard. I have to follow up with another surgeon for their thoughts. Right now I’m able to play with limited pain and mobility issues, but it becomes painful after playing. The weather is not kind to it at all.

I’ve just gotten so out of the loop with TAC and other sites, because of work and I had some other things happen that are ongoing and take up a lot of time.

Perpetual rehab is in my blood. It gets tiring, but I’ve broken both legs and both arms and I have balance issues, and I have degenerative disc disease in lower back and neck that causes continual pinched nerves, and I have fibromyalgia, so yes it will always be part of my life. I treat it as if it is my gym time. Cheaper than a gym membership. I do a lot a aqua therapy, which helps a lot, but i prefer land exercises.

[petelanger]

I’m still around too, just not on TAC as much as before. Glad you still have the same number of bone pieces as you did a few months back! I’m making great strides in my playing by focusing on chord change and strumming drills and going to jam sessions.

I’ve been playing through a bunch of songs, one of these days I’ll post something over here, after I have my new guitar set up and get used to playing it.

[Loraine]

Sounds like you are making great strides Pete. The chord transitions and other drills are important to be able to be for fluent. Took me a long time, but I’m really happy with where I am right now. I like learning new chords (and especially shortcuts 🙂 ).

When you are ready definitely post a video. I would love to hear.

Like i always say, Keep On Plunkin!

[Skyman911]

I’ll miss you Loraine. 10/14 is my last day here. You’ve been a huge inspiration.

[petelanger]

@Skyman911 I’ll be missing you! You know where to find me!

[Loraine]

Aw Skyman! I’ll definitely miss you. It’s been great getting to know you and talk to you. You inspired me with your comments. Thank you, friend!